MUSANZERUBAVU-The Pyrethrum Processing Factory-Horizon Sopyrwa, rewarded exemplary pyrethrum farmers from Musanze and Rubavu districts.

The firm handed over the rewards worth Rwf8m, yesterday, during the annual Pyrethrum Farmers’ Day held in Kinigi and Kabatwa.

The savings and credit cooperative-SACCO Kinigi branch received Rwf5m; four needy farmers were identified and handed Friesian heifers, while other members of cooperatives received 150 hoes.

Other five farmers got mattresses, 100kgs of pyrethrum seeds, 23 drying materials, and office equipment for cooperatives.

The general manager of Horizon Sopyrwa, Gabrial Bizimungu, said that the target is to increase the growing of pyrethrum from 200 hectares, to 1,500 hectares next year, and urged farmers to begin growing the crop on a large scale.

"We have the market, the prices per kilo on the world market is US$300, this factory (Sopyrwa), produces 30 percent of its capacity. We are here to give farmers confidence and support to increase pyrethrum productivity,” he said.

Several local authorities, including the Governor of Northern Province, Aime Bosenibamwe, the Chief Executive of Horizon group, Eugene Haguma, and legislator Anne Marie Musabyemungu, attended the function.

"We have to make a clear evaluation of what we have to produce. The value of pyrethrum is clear, the growing of non productive traditional crops should be re assessed, and we need to appreciate the impact of pyrethrum,’’ Bosenibamwe said. 

It was disclosed that the pyrethrum processing factory is set to begin producing insecticide and increase global pyrethrum output from current 5 percent to 20 percent by 2015.

Farmers requested for better pyrethrum purchase prices.

"We are grateful because this crop (pyrethrum) is now getting attention, support and we are getting payments in advance. However, we ask the company to increase the prices,’’ a farmer Isabela Nyirabazaseriri, pleaded.

Pyrethrum is one of the major sources of income and employment for many of the rural people in the Northern and Western provinces. It employs over 7,000 families besides being an important source of foreign exchange earnings for the country.
 

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